But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:13-15

If you look at the state of Christianity, from just 50 years ago, it’s amazing how far many have fallen from the foundation of our faith. Many heresies and false teachers have invaded the Church, many people are deceived, many people are false converts, not even knowing the true Risen Lord. However as the Apostle Paul prophesied here, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, none of this is a surprise to God, infact it was expected!

As Paul warns here “evil men and seducers or imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” The imposters that have overtaken the pulpits are so deceived, they even deceive themselves. As the Apostle Paul predicted , this will happen in the Last Days (2 Timothy 3, 1 Timothy 4) This is one of the signs , we are living in the last days. The great apostasy has flooded the Church, God is using this to separate the sheep and the goats, the wheat from the chaff, the saved from the unsaved.

But Paul credits Timothy “but you must continue in the things you have learned” True believers will hold fast to the Word of God, that does not change, that is the same today, yesterday, and forever. Don’t be deceived by false doctrine and false teachers, remain grounded in the Word of God, that was delivered by the Holy Spirit to the apostles and prophets. The Word that was spoken directly by God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, this is your foundation, not the wisdom of the world which is doctrines of demons

But many people fall away, as scripture says “My people perish from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6) Many people are false converts, claiming the name of Christ but never becoming Born Again in Christ. Never having a new heart and new mind, having the law written on their hearts, having the Holy Spirit live inside of them. They are dry bones dead in the valley, without the Breath of God, there is no life in them!

So what do we do? Notice how Paul credits Timothy’s faith “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures (The Bible) , which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” Timothy was grounded in the Word of God, which he learned since he was a child. Be grounded in the BIble, know the Word of God and you won’t be deceived by the demons of deception.

By most importantly, Timothy had complete faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, his salvation wasn’t dependant on any man-made works so anyone should boast, his salvation is in Christ alone, Amen

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:10-12

Previous verses the Apostle Paul revealed what false Christians would look like, they were depraved, beyond understanding as they were consumed by their own carnal desires. Our scriptures today, show us what a real Christian should look like, or what your walk with Christ will be like. As I continually quote, Jesus said “If anyone wants to be my disciple, deny yourself, carry your cross, and follow Jesus” (Matthew 16:24)

As the Apostle Paul states “you have fully known and followed my doctrine (The Word of God), manner of life, purpose, faith , patience and love” You believe and obey the Words of God, also you produce fruits of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 7, Galatians 5) The Holy Spirit is living inside of you, and everyone can see Christ living inside of you. There is no question to the world if you are a Christian or not, you are clearly demonstrated by the way you live your life for Christ. 

Now the Apostle Paul turns to the difficult side of our Christian walk that most won’t talk about, persecution and afflictions. As Paul testified he has suffered and endured as a Apostle of Christ, “but out of them all The Lord delivered me” This is not your best life now, this will be your worst life now as a real Christian. However this is the only Hell you will ever know, remember that. You will suffer and be persecuted as a Christian, because the world hates the real Jesus of the Bible (John 15:18)

However understand that God will never leave or forsake you, even though you will suffer for the Kingdom of God, you will be delivered for the glory of God. Now you might say I don’t want to suffer or be persecuted , the Apostle Paul says “ all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” Notice the Apostle Paul didn’t exempt any Christians, if you want to live a life for Christ, you will be persecuted by the world for Christ!

But understand this, we already have victory in Jesus Christ! Regardless of what the world does to us, Jesus has already overcome the world (John 16:33) Live for Jesus and not for this world, Amen!

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 2 Timothy 3:6-9

As we continue the Apostle Paul’s prophetic vision of the last days, the great falling away of the Church to apostasy, the rejection of the truth, the rejection of the Word of God, the rejection of the Holy Spirit, the rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord. As we are seeing today, most of Christianity has become carnally minded and corrupted.

But the question you might ask, is how did we get to this point? Why are so many deceived by false religion? As The Lord Jesus warned “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24) The Lord warned that even the elect will be deceived

This is what the Apostle Paul is teaching us here, these false teachers “creep into houses” and they deceive the spiritually weak and vulnerable. You need to understand these false teachers know what they are doing, they are wolves preying on the sheep. They know exactly what you want to hear, they know exactly how to seduce you with false doctrines This is why you need to know the Word of God, you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you need to be in relation with Christ, otherwise you are going to be deceived

The Apostle Paul goes on to call these deceivers “men of corrupt or depraved minds” The Greek word means “to destroy” These are not harmless preachers just conveying false doctrine, they are depraved demons looking to destroy your soul. They have been given over to Satan, there is no truth in them. As the Apostle Paul stated “God gave them over to a reprobate mind” (Romans 1:28) They are totally incapable of preaching the truth, so not only stay away from these wolves but rebuke them in Jesus name!

However if you are Born Again, if you are grounded in the Word of God, you should know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16) As the Apostle Paul states here “for their folly or madness will be manifest or obvious to all” If you know the Word of God, then the deception by these wolves will be obvious to you, however as Gods states “My people perish from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6) Many are deceived because they don’t know the truth, they don’t have the Holy Spirit, they don’t read the scriptures, they don’t truly know The Lord Jesus Christ, Amen